Hinge for folding screens and the like



March 24, 1970 B. J. ODEA 3,501,800

HINGE FOR FOLDING SCREENS AND THE LIKE Filed May 24, 1967 ll IO I2 I32 1 i I i I s; r 321 l l i 1 I 1*; 4:

' I a t I iFz "'1 F W 14 P 0 I I I I I l I I8 l '7 I L.--|8 T bx? j lrs f I INVENTOR BERNARD J. O'DEA United States Patent 3,501 800 HINGE FOR FOLDING SC REENS AND THE LH(E Bernard J. ODea, Canon City, Colo. (1912 Eastlake Blvd., Apt. 1103, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80910) Filed May 24, 1967, Ser. No. 640,979 Int. Cl. E05d 7/ 00, 9/00 U.S. Cl. 16--150 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE RESUME OF INVENTION This invention consists of a single piece of nylon or Fiberglas cord that is placed around two members that are a part of a folding screen or the like in order that the screen may be folded 360 degrees. The cord is secured in two members of the screen by means of cleats, as will hereinafter be described.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a hinge for folding screens and the like that is made up of a single piece of nylon or Fiberglas cord, thereby doing away with the use of metal parts that require screws for securement of the hinge to whatever is to be opened, as well as to the stationary structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hinge for folding screens and the like that will not add any noticeable difference in weight to the screen.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a hinge for folding screens and the like that permits one to have greater privacy behind the screens since no gap is necessary between the two parts of the screen.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will no doubt become apparent as the reading of this specification and claims proceeds and the accompanying drawing is examined.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a typical folding screen, having its panels secured together by this invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of this invention.

In the several views of this invention, the various parts are indicated by the same reference characters.

The reference character indicates the frame of a typical folding screen that is composed in this instance of three separate panels, 11, 12, and 13. These are provided with members 14, 15, 16, and 17, which are secured together by means of a plurality of nylon or Fiberglas cords 18 which are the actual hinge members that comprise this invention. The aforesaid cords are spaced in parallel spaced relation to one asother.

Each of the aforesaid members 14, 15, 16, and 17 is provided with a groove 19 in which is placed the aforesaid cord 18 in the manner shown in FIGURE 3 of the accompanying drawing. Here it is seen that each cord 18 connects two of the members 14 and 15 together as do the same cords in connecting members 16 and 17. Each cord is so wound around two of the members as to form a numeral 8, as one can see by looking at FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawing.

A cleat 19', of the configuration shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing, is placed in the recess 20 of the member 14 and like cleat 21 in recess in member 15, thereby firmly securing the aforesaid cord 18 in place in the recess in the members in which it is placed. It will be noted on examination of FIGURES 1, 3, and 4 of the accompanying drawing that the recess in which the cord 18 is placed is made at an angle for reasons obvious to those experienced in the art.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the specific form shown in the accompanying drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hinge for folding screens and the like, comprising a cord that is placed in a recess in one member of a screen and wound around in the shape of a numeral 8 when also placed in the recess of a paralled member of the said screen which is of the folding type, the said cord being suitable secured by two cleats located one in a second recess in each of the two parallel members of the said screen, said cord being a nylon Fiberglas cord, wherein each of said cleats has a curved surface that presses against a portion of said cord when said cleats are in place in the opening provided in the said parallel members, thereby firmly securing the said cord in place in the said screen.

2. The invention of claim 1, whereby the recess for each cleat is at near right angle to that of the recess for the said cord.

3. The invention of claim 2, whereby the recess for the said cord is set at an angle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,174 9/1918 Carter 16-150 2,210,652 9/ 1940 Dennett.

1,196,244 9/1916 Kinoshita 16150 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,203,389 7/1959 France.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner 

